Door operating mechanism



,Dc- 20, 1932. H. RowNTREE O' 1,891,359

DOOR OPERATING MECHANSM v Filed Jan. 14. 1950 s sheets-sheet 1 I I lg f @3x5 his-@www5 Dec. 20, 1932. H, RowN'rREE I DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 wwwa. www

Suma/woz Hard/a' /own fr M U Nw De 201932- -H. RowNTREE ADOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14.1930 5 sheets-sheet `3 f ance-Mtn Rown rez Dec. 20, 1932. H. RowNTREE DooR OPERATING MEGHANISM Filled Jan, 14. 1930 5 sheets-sheet 4 Dec. 20, 1932. HROWNTREE 1,891,359

voor: OPERATING mscmmlsu Filed Jan. 14. 1950 5 sheets-sheet 5 l'lc 141.75

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l Patented Dec. 1932 UNITED As'rxrns PATENT OFFICE HAROLD ROWNTREE', OF scARsnArn, NEW YORx, AssIGNoR To NATIONAL TNEUMATIO ooMrANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Application led January 14,\ 1930. Serial No. 420,803.

This invention relates in general to motive means and electrically controlled mechanism by means of which doors or other objects can be operated thereby.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a gear train system to be used for electrically connecting a motor operating in one direction to doors and the like so that they may be opened and closed.

A further object of lthis invention is the provision of a s stem employing one motor,

' an operating s aft therefor, and suitable electrically controlled means for operatively connecting a plurality of doors to said shaft so that they may be opened and closed.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a system of this type of mechanism so arranged that all the doors may be opened or closed through the agency of the operating shaft.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of' means by which a plurality of doors may be independently opened and closed through suitable operating'connections with a single operating shaft.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a gear train mechanism operating in conjunction with a power shaft and clutches by means of which a linkfor connecting the-mechanism with the door may be operatedin either direction.

In particular the object-of the invention is the provision of means for independently operating each door of a series of doors across a wide passageway through which a large number of people pass in either direction, all the doors being operated by a single continuously revolving shaft, the operating connections to each door to ope-n and to close it being effected by electrical means, controlled by circuits made and broken by push buttons, by a push and pull plate on the door itself or by treadles in the front and rear of the doorway.

These and many other objects as will ap' tions, all as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. i

Referring to the drawingshFlgure 1 is a cross sectional view taken on t e line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the gear train and clutches;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 givinganother view of the gear train and clutches Fig. 3 is another cross sectional view of the same mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 isa sectional view through the casmg of a modified form of gear train and clutches;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5,-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one way in vhich the gear train is associated with a Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the association of the gear train with the door fra-me and its connections with a door;

Fig. 8 is a. vertical cross sectional -view through a form of switch mounted on the door or operating the clutches;

Fig. 9 is a diametric circuit arrangement of the switch and clutch magnets;

Fig. 10 is a view showing the association of a plurality of doors with a single operating shaft, the motor for operating the shaft and the circuit connections for the switches and electro-magnetic clutches;

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram to be used with the apparatus of this invention in connection with a treadle; Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram to be used in connection with the apparatus of this invention employing push button control for the doors for one side thereof only;

Fig. 13 is a similar circuit arrangement using a different form of switch; g

Fig. 14 is a circuit diagram for use in connection with the apparatus of this invention employing push but-tons for controlling the doors from either side'thereof.

The prime object of this invention is the provision of a combination of devices by means of which a single continuously rotating shaft may be employed for Operating a pluralit of doors in either direction independent y or simultaneously. It is, of course, apparent that the invention is not limited to the operation of the doors since any device which can be operated thereby is contemplated within the scope of this invention.

The invention will be more readily understood by direct reference to the drawings in which the various parts will be discussed in det-ail. The gear train and clutches are mounted within a suitable casing 1 through which and in which is journaled the operating shaft 2. This operating shaft extends adjacent to and preferably above the doors which are to be operated therefrom. Mountedon shaft 2 within the casing are the bevel gears 3 and 4 which meshrespectively with the bevel gears 5 and 6 mounted for rotation on the studs 7 and 8 secured to the casing. Associated with the gears 5 and 6 are the friction clutches 9 and 10 which consist of a friction surface secured to the gears and another friction member movable with respect to the gears so that the friction surfaces may be brought into contact when desired. Secured to the movable part of the clutches are the grooved collars 11 and 12 which are formed with or united with the small gears 13 and 14, respectively. The'units 11-13 and 12-14 are mounted for free rotation on the studs 7 and 8. These units are secured to the movable parts of the clutches for rotation therewith and for sliding movement on the studs.

Journaled on a short stud shaft 16 mounted in the casing are the gears 15 and 19 which areunited together for rotation. Gear 16 meshes with the Gears 13 and 14. A toothed quadrant 21 meshes with the gear 19 and is secured to the square shaft 20 which is like- Wise journaled in the casing and which extends externally thereof to receive a connecting link 17 which is held in place by means of a nut 18. It is pointed out here what is obvious by comparlng Figs. 1 and 2 that shafts 16 and 20 are spaced from each other and hence gears 15 and 19 are not on shaft 20 as might appear in Fig. 1. Secured to one surface of gear 15 is a pin 22 which projects into the path of the lever 23 pivoted on the casing and extending externally thereof. A knockout switch, well known in this art, may be connected to the lever 23 so as to be operated to break the magnet circuit when gear 15 has been rotated to the point where pin 22 strikes the lever 23. This feature is well known in the art.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the casing is provided with cylindrical chambers 24 and 25 within which are mounted the fixed cores 2G and 27 for cooperation with the movable plungers 30 and 35. This construction is similar to the construction with regard to this feature shown in Fig. 4. Within these chambers are the solenoid windings 29 and 34 which encircle the fixed cores 26 and 27 and the movable plungers 30 and 35. Solenoid winding 29 has the terminal wires 61 and 66 and solenoid winding 34 has the terminal wires 62 and 65.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 there is pivotally connected to the movable plunger 30 al lever 31 which is pivotally supported on a bearing 32. The lever 31 is provided with a forked end 33 which lies in the groove of collar 12. A similar arrangement is provided for the other magnet and is shown comprising the lever 36 pivotally supported at 37 and provided with the forked end 38 and bracing groove collar 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as the arrangement in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and is merely shown to illustrate a modified association of the elements to provide a different shaped casing to meet different head room conditions over the doors. The chambers for the magnets are also shown within the casing and a slightly modified construction is provided for supporting the levers 31 and 36. Figs. 4 and 5 serve two purposes. First, to illustrate how the parts can 'be arranged to provide a different shaped structure and to aid in more clearly and fully understanding the association of the various gears and clutches, which is substantially the same association as shown .in the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

The arrangement of Fig. 6 is to show the association of the door and gear train. The door is in this case shown as a single hingedly supported door 40 and the gear casing 1 supported thereover. The lever 17 is pivotal- 1y connected by a link 42 to the door 40. Thus as lever 17 is oscillated back and forth the door is moved with it. If desired, as is well known in the art, the knockout switch 41 may be mounted directly in the path of the door so as to open the magnet circuit just before the door closes in lieu of operating the knockoutswitch by means of the lever 23 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 shows another view of the association of the gear box and door. In this figure the sill for the door is shown'at 39 to which is secured the gear box 1. .The lever 17 is shown pivotally connected by the link 42 to the door 40. i

The magnets for the solenoid windings 29 and 34 may be controlled by ordinary push buttons, one for the opening operation and one for the closing operation. The knockout switches, as is well known in the art, are employed to interrupt the iow of the cur` rent to the magnetshould either of these but- Mounted on one side of the door and secured thereto is a plate 43 having spaced holes therein through which studs 45 formed at the ends of the handle 44 pass. The openings in the plate are in alignment with holes which pass through the door as shown. The studs 45 project a short distance beyond the other face of the door and have secured thereto a movable plate 46. Springs 47 encircle the studs 45 and lie between the two lates so as to hold plate 46, studs. 45 and liandle 44 in the position shown in F1g. 8. The door is provided with a recess, as shown, into which projects a stud 48 secured to the plate 46. Slidably mounted on its stud and insulated therefrom is a contact disc 90 which is held in the normal position of the apparatus by means of spring 49 against the fixed contacts 50 and 52. On the other side of the contact disc 90 are the iixed contacts 51 and 53. When handle 44 is pulled to the right or plate 46 is pushed to the right (Fig. 8) contact disc 90 moves from this position to bridge contacts 52 and 50 to a position to bridge contacts 51 and 53.

The circuit connections for the clutches in one of the gear boxes is shown in Fig. 9. A

Wire lleading from the positive side of the current source is connected tothe fixed contacts 52 and 53. Fixed contact 50 is connected by wire 62 to one terminal of the knockout switch 41. The other terminal is connected by wire 64 to one terminal of the Winding 34 which has its other terminal grounded by wire 65. Contact 51 is connected by wire 61 to one terminal of winding 29 which has its other terminal grounded by wire 66.

The switch controlled by handle 44, and indicated generally by reference numeral 80, 1s shown in its normal position in this iigure. With the switch in this position the door is closed and the knockout switch 41 is opened. To open the door either plate 46 is pushed or handle 44 is pulled so that disc 90 bridges contacts 53 and 51. As a result solenoid winding 29 is energized and the clutch operated thereby is closed to effect a rotation of shaft 20 through the gear train from shaft 2.A

The door is thus opened. Upon the initial movement of the door in opening the knockout switch 41 is left free so that it automatically closes. Thus, when switch 80 is relieved of any pressure or pull it will return to normal position so that the contact disc 90 bridges contacts 52 and 50. As a result winding 29 is deenergized and winding 34 is energized so that its clutch 9 will be engaged to operate the shaft 20 through the gear train by means of shaft 2in the opposite direction to close the door. Just before the door closes it again opens knockout switch 41 so that winding 34 is deenergized and hence no damage is done to the apparatus. It is noted that the knockout switch 41 in this oase is shown in circuit with the closing solenoid winding but it could, as it would be understood in this art,

be connected. in the motor circuit if it be desired\ to deenergize it just before the door closes. However, with the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 the operating shaft 2 which is never reversed in directlon of rotation may be driven by a continuously running motor which is always operating and by means of whichthe doors may be ope-ned and closed by the operation of the proper clutches through the `agency of switch 80.

There is shown in Fig. 10 an arrangement of apparatus by means of which a plurality of doors can be operated from a single operating shaft 2. The gear and clutch boxes are indicated generally at 1 through which the shaft 2 passes. This shaft is connected by a' suitable coupling 101 to a continuous runnin electric motor 100 having the current lea s 102 and 103. The wire 60 from the positive side of the current source is shown connected to the switches 80 which for purposes of simplicity in illustration are not shown mounted on the door. Another reason for thus showing switches 8O is that^while they may be mounted-on the doors, as illustrated in Fig. 8, they could just as well be mounted on the door frame at a suitable point adjacent the door or at any other desired point; These switches are shown connected, as before, by wires 62 and 61 to the gear boxes and the ground connection is shown by the wire 65-66. Each gear box is connected through the lever 17 to its adjacent door 40. With this arrangement with the motor I100 operating continuously in one direction each door may, by the turn of switch 80, be moved from closed to open position and from open to closed position independently of each other. However all the doors are operated by the single rotating shaft 2. An obvious modification of this arrangement would be to interconnect all the opening and all the closings solenoid windings so that all the doors can be simultaneously operated by means of a single control switch from one or a plurality of points as desired.

The operation of the gear train needs little explanation. With the shaft 2 operating in one direction only but provided with the opposed bevel gears 3 and 4 it is' possible to operate shaft 20 in either direction depending upon which of the clutches is engaged. All this is apparent to one skilled in the art.

. It is of course apparent that many circuit arrangements may be employed in connection with the apparatus of this invention for effecting this control. In the arrangement of Fig. 11 a treadle operated switch is employed, which treadle, as is well known in the art, is to be placed adjacent the doors in the path of movement of pedestrians so that when the treadle is depressed under the weight of the pedestrians the doors are operated to open. Such a treadle of course can be mounted so as to be operated from either side of the door.

contro s a switch of any suitable type 102 Which is connected at one terminal'to the positive side of the current source and at the other terminal to the solenoid windin 100 of a relay. The other terminal of this winding is grounded. The switch -which is operated b the .relay is shown at 104 with two switcarms thereon for1 bridging in its diiferent positions pairs of fixed contacts, one pair for each switch arm. The knockout switches are of the usual and well known type which are operated bythe door, one when the door is fully opened and the other when the door fully closed. These are of course well known in the art and have hence been illustrated diagrammatically.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 11` in the position. it is when the doors are closed. Knock out switch connected with the winding 34 opens just as the door is fully closed; the apparatus being in position it is when -the door is fully closed. When a pedestrian steps on treadle 101 switch 102 is closed and winding 100 is energized. As a result the movable part 104 of the relay moves upwardly, opening the lower contacts and closing the upper contacts. As a result wndin 29 is energized, operating the proper clutc to cause the doors to open. Just as the door`is fully opened the knock out switch, in series with winding 29, is opened and the other knockout switch is closed in the meantime. The apparatus is thus set so that when appedestrian moves off treadle 101 and switch 102 is open winding 34 will be energized since; winding. 100 is deenergized and the movable part 104 of the relay returns to the position shown in Fig. 11. As a result the door begins to close and just as it is fully closed the knock out switch lin series with winding 34 is opened andthe other knock out switch in themeantime is closed.

The arrangement of Fig. 12 is somewhat similar except Vthat the apparatus isv operated by push buttons fromV one side of the door only. The apparatusV is shown in the position itr is when vthe door is closed. To open .the door push button switch 105 isclosed. Asa Aresult thecurrentows fromthe positive side of the current sourcethrough the holding coil 106, the switch arm of the pushv button and from push button 107 to ground.

switch 105-'and through switch 107 to ground. As a result the clutch is operated andthe door is opened. It is well to remember that the door operating shaft is continuously rotating atall times and that the windground to energize it.

through winding- 29, switch 'arm andv ings 29 and 34 operate the clutches to move the doors either to o en or closed position. In this case the knoc out switches operate as before and hence 'just as the door is fully opened the knock out switch in series with winding 29 is opened and the other knock out switch in the meantime is closed. As a result winding 29 is deenergized. Vllen it is desired to close the door push button switch 107 is depressed opening it and breaking thev circuit to holding coil 106. As a result switch 105 moves to its other position and current can flow from wire 60 through ninding 34 to ground to cause the door to c ose.

` The arrangement in Fig. 13 is substantially the same in operation with the exception that switch 108 is a mechanical holding switch which stays in the position to which it is operated. This switch 108 is the equivalent of push button switch 105 and its holding coil 106. The apparatus is in the position it is when the door is closed. To open thev door switch 108 is moved to its other position and as a result winding 29 is energized. Just as the door is fully opened knock out switch in series with winding 29 is opened and the other knock out switch in the meantime is closed. Thus to close the door it is only necessary to move the switch 108 back to the position shown in the drawings to cause the doors to close.

The arrangement `shown in Fig. 14 employs opening and closing push buttons on each switch of the door so that the door can be operated from either side. Thus to open the door from either sideeither switch 110 or 111 is operated. When thus operated currentiows from the positive side ,of the current source through winding 108 to The winding 108 is part of a relay switch having the movable part109, which energized means has three contact arms on it which cooperate with a fixed pair of contacts. In the position shown in the drawings it bridges the lower set of contacts and -leaves the other two sets unbridged. However, when winding 108 is energized the lower set of contacts are open and the two upper sets are closed. As -a result current Hows-from the positive side of the 4current source through the upper pair of contacts, through switches 113 and .112, and thence to ground through winding 108.

.Thus a holding circuit is formed to maintain the winding 108 energized. At the same time current flows through wire 60 and winding 29 to ground through the middle set of contacts. As a result the door opens and when fully opened effects the opening .of the knock out switch in series with winding 29 and in the meantime the other knock out switch is closed. To close the door from either side either switch 112 or 113 is operated. This breaks the holding circuit for winding 108 which is thus deenergized. The

movable part 109 of the relay returns to the position shown in Fig. 14, completing the circuit to ground from wire 60 through winding 34. As a result the door closes and when fully closed the knock out switch in series with Winding 34 is opened and in the meant'me the other knock out switch is closed.

F rom the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that I have embodied certain principles of construction and operation in a specific form in the drawings for purposes of disclosure. Those skilled in the art will immediately appreciate many changes in the principles of construction and operation without departing from the spirit of this invention and I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given in an illustrative sense but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism of the type described, the combination with a continuously revolving shaft and means for operating the shaft, of a door, means for selectively connecting the shaft to the door to operate it in either direction, said means including clutches, electro-magnetic means for operating the clutches, switch means for controlling said electro-magnetic means for operating the clutches to open the door, a holding coil controlled by the switch means for maintaining the switch in operated position, and means for eenergizing the holding coil to close the oor.

2. In a mechanism of the type described, the combination with a continuously revolving shaft and means for revolving the shaft, of a door, means for selectively connecting the shaft to the door to operate it in either direction, said means including clutches, means for operating the clutches, and means for selectively controlling the means for operating the clutches to open and close the door including a relay, opening and closing switches and circuits therefor arranged so that the closing switch deenergizes the relay.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 18th day of December, A. D.

HAROLD ROWNTREE. 

